CHICAGO (CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama will not be moving his family across the street from the White House early, despite his request to do so. Blair House, which incoming presidents traditionally occupy 5 days before inauguration day on January 15, is apparently booked in the early part of January.

An Obama transition spokesperson says the family initially "explored the idea" of moving into Blair House early so that daughters Sasha and Malia could start school on schedule. But the family was told there were previously-scheduled events and guests that could not be displaced.

"The Blair House, the President's guest house for visiting dignitaries, is available to President-elect Obama and his family starting January 15, as is historically the case," said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush.

"As for any conversation, I don't comment on specific conversations about transition details."

The Obama transition spokesperson emphasized the White House has been "extremely accommodating" to the Obama family, adding that the entire process has been "smooth and friendly."

soundoff(1,230 Responses)

Wait, who's this Bush guy? And whats he doing to president Obama, I don't follow...

December 12, 2008 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |

Reblican4Life

Maxine M. Roberts,

Your post hurt my eyes to read. Did you not learn punctuation in school? Our country has turned ignorant.

December 12, 2008 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |

Dee

If I were Sasha and Malia, I'd be thanking President Bush. Why would any child WANT to start school on time when they could have a few weeks off? lol. It's all for the best, really.🙂

December 12, 2008 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |

Stu Smith

I'm as reasonably critical of Bush as anybody, but c'mon... This is not a big deal. I think Bush has been uncharacteristically gracious during this transition time, and there probably is a legitimate reason for the Blair House not being available. There are enough good reasons to rag on Bush that we don't need to manufacture them.

BTW–"UNABASHADLY (sic) CONSERVATIVE"–if you're going to use a pseudonym, at least spell it correctly!

December 12, 2008 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |

Stephen

You guys making fun of the sitting US president. have not walked nor could you walk in President Bush's or Mr. Obama's (he's not a senator anymore) shoes.... It is very easy to be nasty... and just downright mean... But I am glad to say. The US has been safe from Bombs, attacked and people dying in the streets for over 7.5 years.... We are in the financial shape were are in because of greed, giving loans to people who can pay their bills and "I did not have sex with that woman" president left office...... Lets see where we are (in debt or war) in 1 year... Then we will see why some of the policies you different bloggers are complaining about were not so bad....

December 12, 2008 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |

Kay

The comments reflect a misinterpretation of this misleading sentence:"Blair House, which incoming presidents traditionally occupy 5 days before inauguration day on January 15, is apparently booked in the early part of January." It should read "5 days before the Jan. 20 inauguration, and is apparently not availabe until then, on Jan. 15"

December 12, 2008 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

karen

Undoubtedly Blair House has been booked for YEARS! The President -Elcet will get in in due time, in time for the inauguration. Get over it...this is a non issue!

December 12, 2008 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |

Jessica

To the moron who wants to impeach Obama now: Guess what, if we didn't call for Bush to be impeached, then you might as well forget about Obama being impeached. Get over it. He's OUR president and after 8 years of "mess", I, for one, am relieved! Come on January 20th! I'm tired of this "President-elect" stuff, I'm ready to say, PRESIDENT Obama and FORMER PRESIDENT Bush!!!!!!

December 12, 2008 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |

ThrilloftheVO

At least Bush's people won't remove all of the "O's" from the keyboards in the White House like Democrats would do.

December 12, 2008 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |

For me to know

Wow! It amazes me the various interpretations that you get from one little article that is so Insignificant. The people in this country have alot of growing up to do. Especially, Republicans! Most have their heads in the clouds or in their big fat butts to even realize what has happen to our economy. These are the type of people that would destroy this country due to their own twisted ideology and are will to promote it at all cost. What makes them so different from islamic extremist? They are always thinking of war and conquest in the same manner and call it our national interest...go figure!

December 12, 2008 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |

Woe

To Anonymous 1. Obviously you are a disgruntled Repug or a prejudice moron of no intelligence. Get human.

December 12, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

FreeNLovIt

I dont know. We need to figure out a way to help our politicians, who run this country, do the right thing. I believe most of them are good men. How do you run to win without support of corrupted lobbyists?

December 12, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

Blasphemous

Who dares to use Obama's name in vain?

December 12, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

1984

What a scandal.

Obama and co. should be able to move in anywhere they want, anytime they want. And do whatever they want everywhere.

Why does anybody get in this man's way when they should know that, like, he's so amazing? And, like, he's going to bring change? And, like he's the messiah? And everything he does is perfect?

I wish there were a way to throw all the people who oppose Obama out of Washington. Like, outlaw the Republican party.

Yeah, that's the ticket. One party rule.

I hope you morons who voted for Obama see where I'm going with this...

December 12, 2008 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

Jessica

Seriously people?! Obama is going to do a better job than almost any past president! I cant wait until he does such a good job that he gets another 4 years! I also hope that he tries to put our cureent (and i use the term lightly) current president in jail for the laws he has broken and laws he has changed to better suit his agenda!

December 12, 2008 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

B. Churchill

C'mon, folks – no one in the present administration could have predicted that a president-elect and his family might need a place to stay in the place where presidents-elect traditionally stay before swearing-in, could that have? That would mean that someone would have to know how to think ahead and/or schedule appropriately. Has anyone detected this ability?

December 12, 2008 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

Jindal2012fan

What does it matter who is staying there. It's Bush's last days and maybe he has family or friends there. That's HIS business. Obama asked, no harm...It's being used, sorry, no foul. Why make anything more of it... Now if all the O's on the typewriters go missing...then you can have an issue.

December 12, 2008 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

Monica

The current president and first lady (being an ex school librarian) should make it available. The idea that they should have to stay elsewhere for 5 days and then move on the 15th and then move again on the 21st is ridiculous for any family let alone the president elect. The girls missing school should not be an option. Especially for Laura. I would say the same if it was Jenna and Barbara or Chelsea.

December 12, 2008 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

Beatsy

A story on another website confirms that the residence is NOT booked at all in January. Blair House IS being used for an event (or two) during that time, but there is NO reason the Obamas couldn't move into the living quarters, which are well separated from rooms where Bush would be entertaining.

December 12, 2008 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

MW

Why are sompe people so upset about this? The Obama's are being given the same level of access to the Blair House that every single other President Elect has been given for the last couple hundred years. They just can't use the Blair House early b/c chances are some head of state is visiting the US just prior to that time period and that person(s) is staying at the Blair House. If they want to start their kids in school on time in DC, they can stay at a hotel like so many other people do when they move to a new city and can't move into the home they purchased until AFTER they make the move. I know my family did just this a couple of times (once even after moving to DC).

December 12, 2008 01:50 pm at 1:50 pm |

Brian

Way back in 1981, Nancy Reagan wanted to move into the White House early and said so. Roslyn Carter politely pointed out that the President and his family live in the White House as long as he is in office. Nancy was miffed. I wonder if she's gotten over it.

I don't think this is news, CNN. Nor is Caylee for that matter. How about some stuff on the economy and foreign affairs?

December 12, 2008 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

California Gold

Since there has been another SNAFU I'm confident someone in protocol will ensure optional accommodations are made available. Please try to keep a perspective people. Articles like this are designed to bait people into snarky behavior and nasty comments.

December 12, 2008 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

eric

This has to be another right wing conspiracy by George Bush. After all he is responsible for global warming, the fires in California, the high divorce rate, and every other problem that exists in our world. The only positive thing about Obama being being elected is that we don't have to listen to the angry left for atleast 4 more years. Oh wait I am sure they will blame Bush for Obama's mistakes.

December 12, 2008 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

Michael

I'm guessing they could have found an extra bedroom or two in the White House... talk about that Texas hospitality!